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Pop Diva's Mentor Regains Control of Major Record Label

Avex Inc. has appointed former Senior Managing Director Masato Matsuura as its new president in a management shakeup to put an end to the internal squabble that has rocked the leading Japanese record label. Matsuura, 39 is one of Avex's founders and is a top producer who boosted pop diva Ayumi Hamasaki to stardom.

Managing Director Ryuhei Chiba, 40, a close ally of Matsuura who also serves as president of an Axev affiliate, was named as vice president.

The appointments, approved at the firm's board meeting on Tuesday, will take effect on the same day.

Incumbent President Toshio Kobayashi, 39, will become managing director.

Matsuura and Chiba quit Avex on Aug. 1 after they failed to pass a motion at a board meeting to dismiss then President Tatsumi Yoda, who was at odds with them over management policy.

Matsuura's departure cast a shadow over Avex's future as Hamasaki, the company's money spinner, threatened to follow suit in quitting the label. As a result, Avex shares tumbled on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Yoda resigned only days after Matsuura's departure, and Matsuura returned to Avex as operating officer.

From Jiji Press, 28 September 2004